Though rare since the army withdrew from the north following the ceasefires 20 years ago, the military has been deployed on a number of operations.

In November last year members of an elite army unit were involved in an operation in Newry during which 10 people were arrested for paramilitary-related offences following a lengthy surveillance operation.

The army officially downgraded its status in the north seven years ago as part of the demilitarisation process with the last General Officer Commanding (GOC) Major General Chris Brown leaving the north. Instead a brigadier was put in charge, following perceived advances in the peace process.

At the time it was said that the army would continue to provide bomb-disposal assistance to the police since public order and security would now be a matter for the PSNI and that any future dissident republican threat or loyalist activity would be dealt with entirely by the police.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: “Security in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the PSNI.

“The armed forces have specialist capabilities in terms of high risk search and explosives disposal which - just like everywhere else in the UK - is, and has been available to police as and when required.”